Detroit Federal Judge Extends Order Blocking Iraqis’ Deportation

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By Allan Lengel
allan@deadlinedetroit.com
U.S. District Court Judge Mark Goldsmith
U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith of Detroit on Thursday extended his order blocking the deportation of Iraqis who were rounded up last month in Metro Detroit and elsewhere in the country.

The decision was set to expire next Monday. Goldsmith extended the stay until July 24.

The action immediately impacts more than 100 Chaldeans and Muslims in Metro Detroit and about 85 elsewhere around the country who were arrested last month for deportation purposes. All have criminal records ranging from marijuana possession to murder.

The opinion says he needs more time to rule on the complicated issue of whether he had jurisdiction to preside over the case.

Ultimately, the ACLU would like the detainees to be able to argue before the immigration court that their lives would be in danger if they returned to Iraq.

Iraq earlier refused to accept its citizens, but that changed after President Trump agreed to take Iraq off of the travel ban for U.S. visits.

http://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/17836/detroit_federal_judge_extends_stay_blocking_deportation_of_iraqis#.WV-sNelLdPY